RACE IS ON: Nico Rosberg (right) trails Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 17 points in the race for the Formula One Drivers' World Championship [GETTY]

The Mercedes duo's world championship battle roars back into action at the US Grand Prix tomorrow with Hamilton 17 points ahead of Rosberg.

The title fight has swung firmly back in Hamilton's favour with the 2008 world champion winning four races on the spin.

And just as Hamilton has turned the screw, so the mistakes have crept into Rosberg's driving - most notably in Italy and last time out in Russia where the German messed up his braking badly.

But Rosberg, who effectively handed the win to Hamilton in Sochi by wrecking his tyres with a banzai, first lap overtaking attempt, is adamant he will not adopt a more cautious approach.

"Anything is still possible - and my plan is to fully concentrate and ride full attack," said Rosberg ahead of the race in Austin Texas. "It's a very simple plan"

Confident he can turn the tables on Hamilton in the remaining three races, Rosberg added: "There are still 100 points to be taken - in that respect 17 points shy is not such a big drama."

Rosberg has had three weeks to get over his costly blunder in Russia, and chose to look on the bright side when assessing his recovery to finish second.

He said: "Of course, I was furious after the race - but I wasn't even sure to make it into the points at all.

"So coming in second was good damage limitation. I don't let it get to me."

“I do not see it as this one shot at the title”

Nico Rosberg

With Mercedes set to be the class of the field once again next season and Rosberg having already committed his long-term future to the German team, he can afford to be philosophical if he loses out to Hamilton this season.

"I know that Mercedes will be at the front in the next years," reasoned Rosberg. "So I do not see it as this one shot at the title.

"But of course I pressure myself because I want to win - and the chance is there right now."

With Hamilton in such blistering form, Rosberg's best chance of being crowned world champion this year would seem to rest with mechanical misfortune for his teammate and the double points on offer at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton admitted it would "suck big time" if he was pipped at the post thanks to the double points gimmick.

But, unsurprisingly, Rosberg was less critical of the controversial scoring tweak.

He said: "Now I honestly do love the double points for the last race to keep the situation sizzling!"

It was Hamilton who sizzled in first practice at the Circuit of the Americas yesterday.

The championship leader posted the fastest time of the session, three tenths of a second faster than Rosberg.

McLaren's Jenson Button, still yet to have a drive confirmed for next season, continued his resurgence by finishing third.